Viewer Questions ~ Podcast Episode 61
Happy Thursday everyone. Normally we do view questions on Monday. But on Monday, I wanted to post a video about Women in the Automotive Industry, with some comments sent to me buy Audra from Women Auto Know. It is a really great episode of the Podcast, I highly recommend it. So I am taking your questions today on the Automotive Podcast.
Join me today as I take your questions on:
- Rant about “Automakers making it illegal to work on your own car”
- Issues to look for when buying a Jetta SportWagen
- VW Passat electrical issues
- Issues with MK5 R32 DSG transmission
- Steps in modifying cars.
- Struggles as a new technician.
- and more
Trouble viewing? Watch “Viewer Questions ~ Podcast Episode 61” on YouTube.
As always I love to hear your thoughts. Please post them in the comments section below. Again, if you have a question for a show like this, email me Charles(at)humblemechanic(dot)com with Question for Charles in the subject. Also if you have an idea for a show you can email me, or use the contact me form!
Don’t forget to follow me at:
Just a few thoughts for the guy who’s just starting as a flat rate tech and is feeling discouraged. I’ve been in the business for 16ish years. When I first found my interest in the field, my dad was pushing me to go to college, so I went to school and got an associate degree in auto tech. At the time I thought I had learned a lot while I was there. Looking back on it, 5 years in, 10 years in, 15 years in I have a different perspective. All the system knowledge and technical knowledge, and procedural knowledge I thought I had gotten at school, it all comes with time spent in a shop, doing it 8+ hours a day every day as a profession. Looking back on it now, the most important thing I got out of my time at school was attitude and confidence. They taught us that you will never have all of the answers, there is always someone who has done it longer, has more experience, and is faster. Knowing that, when you have an problem, there is always an answer, somewhere to call, someone to talk to, somewhere to look. And every tech out there at one point or another needs that, especially working with vws. We joke in our shop that sometimes it “takes a village” to fix these things. Its not uncommon for us to have 2 or 3 heads working on a good problem car. The speed and efficiency at with you complete your jobs comes with time. Focus on getting your work 100% complete and correct. After that, you’ll find you’ve developed a rhythm that you work though with every car you pull in. Tuning that rhythm is where the speed comes from, but its all experience and hours put in. Keep your head up, don’t be afraid to ask questions, and put the work, and time in and you’ll be fine.
Totally agree on the copyright issue. It won’t stop anyone that want to.
However, hacking is a very real concern. BMW has an update out now to fix a bug allowing an easy hack to remotely unlock a vehicle. Think about your daughter seeking protection inside a vehicle only to find herself vulnerable. There are also increasing reports of thefts from vehicles with such high-tech security and videos of teenagers with “small electronic devices” gaining easy access to locked cars.
Great stuff for your tech in need. Feelings of failure are actually common in society, just part of the learning cycle. Though I find that even after years of turning wrenches, most techs still fall well short of their potential productivity. Even with years of experience, a true professional is still practicing and preparing to become better.
Hello Charles when V W returning to Timing CHAIN on the T D I, from old knowledge and experience I started out on Timing chain , I personally don’t like timing belt and feel they are a money maker for some people.back then when it was timing chain some chain lasted the life of the vehicle.I may have to go back to Mercedes diesel.